Let's just make problems for the future...
TMEW and I ran a daycare center for a while, so when I saw this at TongueTied linking to this story from Australia, I just shook my head:
CHILDCARE workers have been instructed not to use the words "no" and "don't" because it is feared they will stunt a child's development.
The terms "good boy" and "good girl" are also frowned on as they are considered sexist.
The rules -- taught to childcare students -- have angered Australian Family Association campaigners, who say it's another example of out-of-control political correctness.
And that is all it is - political correctness running amok once again. Kids are going to try EVERYTHING and ANYTHING. The teachers have to be able to maintain order with their groups - if not, that group can cause utter chaos for the entire center (trust me, we had some teachers that were not up to the job - it takes a VERY special person to do this professionally. It is NOT baby-sitting and it is NOT just sitting around "playing with the kids".) And while it may not be "educationally correct" to say "NO!", it is sometimes absolutely necessary.
Why? Think of a two year old getting ready to whack another one. Kids will do that, even the nice, quiet ones - and some more than others no matter what you do. A teacher saying NO loud enough can and often will distract the agressor long enough for the teacher to disrupt that event.
And not using "Boy" or "Girl"? Er, what are they - Its?
A Gold Coast childcare worker, who did not want to be named, said staff were told to use alternatives like "stop" to discipline a child so "we don't stunt a child's mental growth".
Foolishness. Kids need boundaries and if used properly, the word "no" sets boundaries. Just like "yes" can set boundaries as well.
Australian Family Association state secretary Angelique Barr said: "I think people are always looking for new rules to bring in to justify their jobs.
A hint - she's not talking about the daycare workers either. While I owned the center, I knew right from the get go that there was no way I could do what my teachers did.
When it comes right down to it, there is the theoretical educational philosophies and there is the "we're in the middle of it, not you Professor" common sense that has to meet somewhere in the middle. Given what I have seen, and some of the behaviors that have to be changed around (or endured), I'd give the nod to those actually doing the work.
